Internal combustion engine monitoring system
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorMichael S. Marchionda
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An internal combustion engine monitoring system can include a fluid filter disposed between at least one fluid inlet of the internal combustion engine and at least one of a fluid source or an ambient fluid environment. At least one fluid sensor arranged can be arranged to detect a plurality of indications of respective fluid pressures on first and second sides of the fluid filter at a plurality of corresponding engine operating conditions. The indications can be compared with their corresponding operating conditions to assess a condition of the fluid filter and estimate a lifetime thereof.
Claims20
An internal combustion engine monitoring system, the system comprising:
- a fluid filter disposed between at least one fluid inlet of an internal combustion engine and at least one of a fluid source or an ambient fluid environment;
- a first fluid sensor arranged to receive a first indication of respective fluid pressures on first and second sides of the fluid filter at a first engine operating condition;
- a second fluid sensor arranged to receive a second indication of the respective fluid pressures on the first and second sides of the fluid filter at a second engine operating condition;
- processing circuitry configured to monitor a pressure differential over time across first and second sides of the fluid filter to estimate fluid flow across the fluid filter, the processing circuitry configured to:
- adjust at least one parameter of the received first and second indications of respective fluid pressures to mitigate a difference attributable to a difference between the first and second engine operating conditions;
- and
- compare the adjusted first respective indications of the fluid pressures with the adjusted second respective indications of the fluid pressures;
- and
- a user interface to generate an alert indicating a condition of the engine fluid filter based on the monitored pressure differential, the alert triggered by the processing circuitry based on the determined pressure differential exceeding a specified threshold differential.
A method for detecting a fluid filter condition of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
- monitoring a pressure differential over time across first and second sides of the fluid filter to estimate fluid flow across the fluid filter, comprising:
- receiving a first indication of respective fluid pressures on first and second sides of the fluid filter at a first engine operating condition;
- receiving a second indication of the respective fluid pressures on the first and second sides of the fluid filter at a second engine operating condition;
- adjusting at least one parameter of the received first and second indications of respective fluid pressures to mitigate a difference attributable to a difference between the first and second engine operating conditions;
- and
- comparing the adjusted first respective indications of the fluid pressures with the adjusted second respective indications of the fluid pressures;
- and
- triggering an alert indicating a condition of the engine fluid filter based on the monitored pressure differential.
A computing device for detecting a fluid filter condition of an internal combustion engine, the computing device including a processor and a memory device, the memory device including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to:
- monitor a pressure differential over time across first and second sides of the fluid filter to estimate fluid flow across the fluid filter, comprising:
- receive a first indication of respective fluid pressures on first and second sides of the fluid filter at a first engine operating condition;
- receive a second indication of the respective fluid pressures on the first and second sides of the fluid filter at a second engine operating condition;
- adjust at least one parameter of the received first and second indications of respective fluid pressures to mitigate a difference attributable to a difference between the first and second engine operating conditions;
- and
- compare the adjusted first respective indications of the fluid pressures with the adjusted second respective indications of the fluid pressures;
- and
- trigger an alert indicating a condition of the engine fluid filter based on the monitored pressure differential.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.